Casablanca – The 17th Salon du Cheval d’El Jadida wrapped up on Sunday with Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan presiding over the closing ceremony and the awards ceremony for the Grand Prix of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Show Jumping.
Held from October 13-18, the annual event welcomed more than 160,000 visitors, according to a press statement by Marzak El Habib, commissioner of the Salon du Cheval d’El Jadida.
The six-day program brought together international equestrian competitions, traditional Moroccan horsemanship, cultural discussions, and activities celebrating the country’s rich relationship with horses.
A major finish for the Morocco Royal Tour
The final day also marked the end of the 15th Morocco Royal Tour, an international show-jumping circuit that brought leading riders to Tetouan, Rabat, and El Jadida. This year’s edition ran from October 1-18, with El Jadida hosting the final stage from October 15-18.
The El Jadida leg reached a new milestone with the introduction of a CSI5*W competition, placing the city on the circuit’s highest level of show jumping.
Belgian rider Jérôme Guéry, riding Kiliman Sitte, won the first prize, bringing the international competition to a close.
From Tbourida to equestrian nights
Beyond the international jumping arena, the Salon offered visitors a broader look at Morocco’s equestrian traditions and the many ways horses shape the country’s culture.
One of the main attractions was the Grand Prix of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Tbourida, which brought together sorbas from different regions to compete in this traditional form of group horsemanship.
Tent pegging, equestrian demonstrations, and displays by Moroccan and international participants also filled the program.
As the evening fell on October 16-17, equestrian nights added another dimension to the experience, combining horse displays with music and performance.
Meanwhile, cultural and scientific conferences opened discussions on the equestrian sector, alongside meetings that brought together professionals from across the industry.
An edition organizers call a success
In the press statement, El Habib described the edition as “a great success,” pointing to the number of visitors, strong participation from sister and friendly countries, and the high sporting standard of the competitions.
He also highlighted the cultural conferences and discussions, as well as the professional meetings that brought together people working across the horse and equestrian industries.
These activities, he said, offered reasons to feel optimistic about the Salon’s future. He added that the event had fulfilled its purpose and expressed hope of welcoming visitors back next October.
Since its launch in 2008, the Salon du Cheval d’El Jadida has grown into a major gathering for Morocco’s equestrian sector, connecting sport, heritage, culture, and the people working to carry these traditions forward.
